# What is OP? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 8, 2000, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-op/40373 "2000-11-08T21:49:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mealypotaotes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/54ee81/32.png) [@mealypotaotes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mealypotaotes)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-op/40373/1 "2000-11-08T21:49:34Z")
I work in government, so I’m constantly deciphering, or inventing, new acronyms . . . this one I can’t foigure out, and I’m sure it’s painfully obvious. . . OP? I see it used in this board as in “the OP contains information on this topic.” A little help? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-op/40373/2 "2000-11-08T21:53:24Z")
Your post of 3:49 was the **O** riginal **P** ost, and you, **mealypotaotes** are the **O** riginal **P** oster. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-op/40373/3 "2000-11-08T22:25:33Z")
**What is OP?** A type of art popular in the 1960’s characterized by **op** tical illusions and an attempt to alter the viewer’s perceptions. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TheNerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TheNerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNerd)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-op/40373/4 "2000-11-09T00:14:29Z")
**O** ctober **P** roject was a really good band. But Sony dropped them from the label, and Mary Fahl left. The rest of the band and a new vocalist reformed as November Project. Still very good. [http://www.novemberproject.com](http://www.novemberproject.com) ---
**Author:** ![NeoDeftones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/919ad9/32.png) [@NeoDeftones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NeoDeftones)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-op/40373/5 "2000-11-09T01:36:58Z")
Dont forget it also stands for the rare medical condition, Octagonal Penis. Its very rare, but very real. Be sure to have frequent checks for its symptoms. ---
**Author:** ![ts2125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@ts2125](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ts2125)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-op/40373/6 "2000-11-09T01:39:54Z")
you discust me neodeftones! if i saw you face to face id break a hanger over you! and OP stands for Old Patty, who was the most famous man woman whore of the old west ---
**Author:** ![NeoDeftones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/919ad9/32.png) [@NeoDeftones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NeoDeftones)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-op/40373/7 "2000-11-09T01:42:45Z")
What is a “man woman whore”??? ---
**Author:** ![ts2125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@ts2125](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ts2125)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-op/40373/8 "2000-11-09T01:44:32Z")
take a good LOOOOOOOOOOOONG look in the mirror, and your solution will come ---
**Author:** ![c\_goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-op/40373/9 "2000-11-09T14:35:49Z")
**O** cean **P** acific ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-op/40373/10 "2000-11-09T14:41:33Z")
You should study your movie history more, **mealypotaotes**. It was with the film **O** rdinary **P** eople that Robert Redford made a name for himself as a director, and thus OP is a frequent source of inspiration for members of SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-op/40373/11 "2000-11-09T18:05:46Z")
I’ll bet the OP is _really_ glad this question was asked!